84. What courageous conversation are you avoiding?

To minimize the possibility of offense when engaging in a courageous conversation: Pray in advance so that you have God's wisdom and his heart for the interaction. State the facts first. Then share your story (how it impacted you; FYI your story is not a fact. It's how you see it.) Now switch to listening. Ask for their perspective. Remember the reason/purpose for the conversation. Your goal is not to convince, compel or control. You want to move towards understanding and accountability. *** Mentioned in this episode: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler *** Have you ever dropped the ball? I want to invite you to join me for the #WorkYourPlan Book Club. For May I wanted a book that speaks to the pressure moms and women, in general, feel to do it all. So, we are reading Tiffany Dufu's book, Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less, as our May book selection. I often joke that this book should be in the marriage and family section of the book store, rather than the business section. In Drop the Ball, Tiffany shows women how to cultivate the single skill they really need in order to thrive: the ability to let go. She recounts how she learned to reevaluate expectations, shrink her to-do list, and meaningfully engage the assistance of others - freeing the space she needed to flourish at work and to develop deeper, more meaningful relationships at home. Did you know? Even though women are half the workforce, they still represent only 18 percent of the highest level leaders. The reasons are obvious: Just as women reach middle management, they are also starting families. Mounting responsibilities at work and home leave them with no bandwidth to do what will most lead to their success. Drop the Ball urges women to embrace imperfection and to expect less of themselves and more from others - only then can they focus on what they truly care about, devote the necessary energy to achieving their real goals, and create the type of rich, rewarding life we all desire. I'm sure this topic is going to spark some lively discussions. Don't miss it! Register online at strongher.me/bookclub *** The STRONG Womanhood Growth Journal: Activate the Courage to Live Out Your Calling is a self directed guide for women who want to be active participants in their personal transformation and are looking for a process to mentor them through it. And it's finally here! Get it at Amazon: BUY THE BOOK Amazon Book Review: "I highly recommend this journal. I discovered actionable steps to take on my next journey into becoming more consistent with reaching my goals. The messages shared by Kendra are full of wisdom and timeless. The thought provoking questions will assist you in transforming into a confident and courageous woman." *** Subscribe to the #WorkYourPlan Podcast and published episodes will come right to the podcast app on your phone and/or join our email list for email reminders of when a new episode is ready. If you enjoyed the show, please subscribe, rate it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify with a short review. Connect with Kendra personally @kendratillman or @strongherme on Instagram. Ask a question on the podcast episode at strongher.me or by emailing [email protected].